I am looking forward to Vigil, George! Also I’m intrigued by how you talk about revising and making oppositions stouter and less easy to dismiss. Could you tell us more about that in a future story club?
Re: Chekhov quote -- a notion in Vedic philosophy holds that if a question is posed accurately enough, it contains its own answer.
Re: Book cover -- strikingly parallel to one now famous frame from the recent video by astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy of skydiver Gabriel C. Brown falling past the sun. I wish I could post a still frame here, but if you google "skydiver and sun" you'll get a hundred links. One of them is https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1038181821743818 (the originator).
Love the book cover. I see blurbs from Zadie Smith, Tobias Wolff and... Jonathan Franzen? Also, I think Boston Globe and San Francisco Chronicle. Can't make out the others, though Lord knows I've wasted a good five minutes here trying. You could have had literally anyone blurb you--those you chose must feel very honored. (I can't read the quotes--have to wait until i get my copy at your reading here in LA.) George, you are flying high and I really hope you're able to enjoy every second of it. We, who follow your every move, are flying high for you, too. Congratulations, by the way. ;) May I speak for Story Club when I say: We love you!
Congratulations GS! However my heart sinks when someone says a novel is being 'directed' for an audio book. I just finished reading this years Women's Prize winner, The Safekeep. It was brilliant! Got it out on audio via the library thinking it will be a a lovely thing to listen to whilst i am in bed (where much of my day unfortunately gets spent) started the first chapter and no, no, no! The opening lines, nota first person narrative, not dialogue were 'performed'. I had to stop. Can't anyone just read the narrative and do decent voices? Do we have to have each word of the straight prose annunciated, emphasised, emoted, drawn out et cetera et cetera et cetera? Please tell the publishers to stop doing this! Every sentence is not an emotional rollercoaster, i want to add my own interpretation. Sorry if this offends, i'm from the UK, we're far more negative than you Americans. 😱
I feel your pain! Some readers, whether dramatized or not, just can't get it to work -- at least not for me. I knew a professionally trained pedagogue from London who read beautifully -- sonorous, articulated, well paced, intelligent -- but the result was weirdly incomprehensible! He subtly put the wrong syntactic emphasis on certain words and consistently rendered almost every sentence impossible to parse. His prosody was so, well, wrong. Dozens of people at his lectures reported the same thing -- they could not follow what he was reading. And I just finished an Audible recording of short stories in which the reader "did voices" that worked pretty well for some stories, and absolutely ruined it for others.
I've always found that reading aloud the works of great writers was a powerful way to improve my own writing skills, in part because to read well aloud requires that you absorb the author's thinking, and then (if possible) elucidate the intent of each sentence by vocally making it your own. It seems to align one's thinking with the author's, which helps me come to "own" some of the skills involved. But readers who are "dramatizing" may often be doing the exact opposite -- imposing their own skills (or lack thereof) on something that was already deftly adjusted to the surrounding con-text.
Mirjam, I think recorded books are wonderful, i too rely on them to get me through hours of illness spent on bed with little cognitive processing skills, but i've noticed the rise is 'acting' books. I was just listening Dame Judy Dench reciting Shakespeare and its the same with when people act him, some have the skill - like Judy - of making it sound like everyday speech which aids comprehension and some make it sound SHAKESPEAREAN (dramatic sweep of the brow).
YES, Judi Dench has it, and Frances McDormand, too. Did you listen ( watch) her telling that guy in the movie Nomadland how maybe to impress the girlfriend : with a sonett by Shakespeare: Shall I compare thee to a summer‘s day…. And YES, it‘s like you say with Judi Dench, it sounds like everyday talk. ( but An amazing talk indeed!)
Indeed. Although some "directors" also don't seem to get it. I've listened to a few readings by celebrities, some accomplished actors, who just couldn't do it but are accepted by the director because of their fame and promotional value for the book.
For what it's worth, as one individual reader, I can guarantee I'll read it, and I feel confident (based on everything else of yours that I've read, and on the premise) that I'll like it. Congrats on getting it out into the world! That cover is beautiful.
Will keep ears peeled for the Dec 10 reveal. And, beautiful cover! Can you let us know who designed it? (As a former cover designer I appreciate nice covers being shown but would appreciate more knowing who created it.)
I feel like I have backstage tickets at the George Saunders Rock Star Writing Extravaganza. Thank you so much for sharing the inside details and the insights into your ride on this fabulous rocket. And, oh yeah, thanks for expanding consciousness. It's true. And it ain't chopped liver.
And excellent news about the livestream. As to the stresses and preparations re your forthcoming novel, my first reaction had been "better him than me!"
Congratulations George Saunders on mastering the process of writing another no-doubt magnificent novel. We need great literature, now and ever. Summer here in Aotearoa New Zealand so Vigil will be my number one summer read.
I am looking forward to Vigil, George! Also I’m intrigued by how you talk about revising and making oppositions stouter and less easy to dismiss. Could you tell us more about that in a future story club?
Yes, I most certainly will be happy to do that...
Congratulations! Break a leg!
Re: Chekhov quote -- a notion in Vedic philosophy holds that if a question is posed accurately enough, it contains its own answer.
Re: Book cover -- strikingly parallel to one now famous frame from the recent video by astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy of skydiver Gabriel C. Brown falling past the sun. I wish I could post a still frame here, but if you google "skydiver and sun" you'll get a hundred links. One of them is https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1038181821743818 (the originator).
Looking forward to your reading.
Love the book cover. I see blurbs from Zadie Smith, Tobias Wolff and... Jonathan Franzen? Also, I think Boston Globe and San Francisco Chronicle. Can't make out the others, though Lord knows I've wasted a good five minutes here trying. You could have had literally anyone blurb you--those you chose must feel very honored. (I can't read the quotes--have to wait until i get my copy at your reading here in LA.) George, you are flying high and I really hope you're able to enjoy every second of it. We, who follow your every move, are flying high for you, too. Congratulations, by the way. ;) May I speak for Story Club when I say: We love you!
You can definitely speak for me with that We Love You! to George.
Yes I love the cover too... a touch of Musee des Beaux Arts from Auden...
About suffering, they were never wrong, the old masters
Yes, Brueghel's Icarus. The suffering--and who sees? Who notices? That painting! (That poem!) Thanks for the reminder--such a good catch on your part.
i should have been chosen to blurb, and for that reason, I'm out
Understandable. lol
Oh, and hey--happy belated birthday, George!
Congratulations GS! However my heart sinks when someone says a novel is being 'directed' for an audio book. I just finished reading this years Women's Prize winner, The Safekeep. It was brilliant! Got it out on audio via the library thinking it will be a a lovely thing to listen to whilst i am in bed (where much of my day unfortunately gets spent) started the first chapter and no, no, no! The opening lines, nota first person narrative, not dialogue were 'performed'. I had to stop. Can't anyone just read the narrative and do decent voices? Do we have to have each word of the straight prose annunciated, emphasised, emoted, drawn out et cetera et cetera et cetera? Please tell the publishers to stop doing this! Every sentence is not an emotional rollercoaster, i want to add my own interpretation. Sorry if this offends, i'm from the UK, we're far more negative than you Americans. 😱
I feel your pain! Some readers, whether dramatized or not, just can't get it to work -- at least not for me. I knew a professionally trained pedagogue from London who read beautifully -- sonorous, articulated, well paced, intelligent -- but the result was weirdly incomprehensible! He subtly put the wrong syntactic emphasis on certain words and consistently rendered almost every sentence impossible to parse. His prosody was so, well, wrong. Dozens of people at his lectures reported the same thing -- they could not follow what he was reading. And I just finished an Audible recording of short stories in which the reader "did voices" that worked pretty well for some stories, and absolutely ruined it for others.
I've always found that reading aloud the works of great writers was a powerful way to improve my own writing skills, in part because to read well aloud requires that you absorb the author's thinking, and then (if possible) elucidate the intent of each sentence by vocally making it your own. It seems to align one's thinking with the author's, which helps me come to "own" some of the skills involved. But readers who are "dramatizing" may often be doing the exact opposite -- imposing their own skills (or lack thereof) on something that was already deftly adjusted to the surrounding con-text.
And Hera save us from dramatic readings of poems. Hooboy🕶️
Totally
I‘ve got a friend who is blind, and he prefers to listen to his reading machine voice. For these reasons Saving Silvia Plath and Allen mention.
Mirjam, I think recorded books are wonderful, i too rely on them to get me through hours of illness spent on bed with little cognitive processing skills, but i've noticed the rise is 'acting' books. I was just listening Dame Judy Dench reciting Shakespeare and its the same with when people act him, some have the skill - like Judy - of making it sound like everyday speech which aids comprehension and some make it sound SHAKESPEAREAN (dramatic sweep of the brow).
YES, Judi Dench has it, and Frances McDormand, too. Did you listen ( watch) her telling that guy in the movie Nomadland how maybe to impress the girlfriend : with a sonett by Shakespeare: Shall I compare thee to a summer‘s day…. And YES, it‘s like you say with Judi Dench, it sounds like everyday talk. ( but An amazing talk indeed!)
Allen, your note here speaks to the very reason a director is needed.
Indeed. Although some "directors" also don't seem to get it. I've listened to a few readings by celebrities, some accomplished actors, who just couldn't do it but are accepted by the director because of their fame and promotional value for the book.
Yes and…have you listened to the audiobook of Lincoln in the Bardo?
Bardo was quite a phenomenon. It may be the only book I've ever read & listened to, and found I preferred the performance over my own silent reading.
For what it's worth, as one individual reader, I can guarantee I'll read it, and I feel confident (based on everything else of yours that I've read, and on the premise) that I'll like it. Congrats on getting it out into the world! That cover is beautiful.
Excited to see you on tour in Dallas!
same!
just got the substack link
Has anyone gotten a link to todays reading? Looking forward to it.
I have not
If anyone gets it please share, thank you!
Will keep ears peeled for the Dec 10 reveal. And, beautiful cover! Can you let us know who designed it? (As a former cover designer I appreciate nice covers being shown but would appreciate more knowing who created it.)
I feel like I have backstage tickets at the George Saunders Rock Star Writing Extravaganza. Thank you so much for sharing the inside details and the insights into your ride on this fabulous rocket. And, oh yeah, thanks for expanding consciousness. It's true. And it ain't chopped liver.
I'm looking forward to reading Vigil, and I love the book cover!! Congratulations!!
Break a word, George. I'll try to listen in. Live substack is terrific. Cover looks splendid & that Kirkus review‼️🥃🌎🎄⚜️
The tenth of December . . . also known as my birthday . . . and my introduction to your writing!
Congrats, George.
And excellent news about the livestream. As to the stresses and preparations re your forthcoming novel, my first reaction had been "better him than me!"
You've my sympathies, regardless.
Looking forward to Wednesday,
Aleks
Congratulations
Congratulations George Saunders on mastering the process of writing another no-doubt magnificent novel. We need great literature, now and ever. Summer here in Aotearoa New Zealand so Vigil will be my number one summer read.